Mowing-machine.



im. 8'705358'; PATENTED Nov. 5, 1907.

- "13. R. GRIPPITHS.

MOWING MACHINE.

AIE'JPLIOATIOF FILED HAY 23, 1907.

v willi/[111111111111111.Ilu l lim @w ,QH @rw which will also facilitate loosening or removal of the 4clip in removing thecutter knife when clogged orv atesthese objections'to a UNITED sfr-Arne DAVID R. GRIFFITHS, OF RICHVILLE, NEW YORK.

MOWIN G-MACHIN E.

, Specification of Letters Patent. Application fried May 23.1907. sesamo. 375.304.

Patented Nov. 5, 1907.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID R. GRIFFITHS, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Richville, in the county of St. Lawrence and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Mowing- Machines, of which the following is a specication.

This invention relates to improvements in that class of mowing machines in which a .so-termed finger-bar carrying the cutting parts is employed; and one object of the same is to provide means whereby the Cutters or sections may be maintained'in close cutting Contact. with the cutter-plates or soles usually provided on the fingers or guards of said finger bar," which means embody anti-friction bearing balls adapted to permit afree action ot' the reciprocatory cutter.

Another object is to provide a simple andefiicient construction oi means for fastening the clip in position, which may be adjusted to regulate the pressure of the anti-friction bearing on the reciprocatoryV cutter, and

otherwise rendered partiallyl orv wholly inoperative, thereby obviating the inconvenience encountered in detaching clips of ordinary construction. v

The invention is illustra drawing, in whichr- Figure 1 is a'section through a finger bar, showing a fastening clip and shoe or sole in elevation. Fig. 2 is a section through the finger bar and clip, illustrating in detail theconstruction.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral l designates ed in the accompanying the finger bar, on 4which is carried at desired intervals in its length, the fingers, guards or shoes 2 and clips 3, and 4 designates a stationary cutter. plate or sole attached in any suitable manner to the finger. A reciprocatory cutter bar 5, on which are fastened the cutter plates or sections '6, is mounted for movement between the forward or'extended end of the clip 3 and the fingers or guards 2, the whole being arranged in working relation to each other in the usual manner, as specifically illustrated in the drawing.` The cutter bar 5 operates as usual in a recess 7 formed in the finger for its accommodation, and -in the operation of the mower in harvesting grass, grain and other growths, 'dfliculty is encountered by the grassparticularly when wet or moist, being drawn between the cutters 6 and stationary cutter plate 4, or within the recess 7, causing the parts tobecome clogged and practically inoperative until they have been cleared. At times also and after prolonged use the cutting edges of the cutters become dulled and otherwise deranged, necessitating the removal of the cutterbar for the purpose of grinding or otherwise sharpening said knives. The present invention 'obvimaterial extent by the provision of means to maintain a close cutting Contact between the cutters to prevent admission of the grass beof convenient length and width, and is formedv in itsorward portion, which overhangs the reciprocatory cutter 6, with a partially circular bearing communicating with athreaded socket 9. The openopening 8 i ing 8 is of proper form to receive an anti-friction beary ing ball 10, which is retained in position by a plug 11 inserted within the threaded opening, said plug being provided with a nicked upper end, or otherwise formed for convenient insertion and removal by a suitable form of tool. for contact with a bearing ball, and by its screwthreaded connection said plug is adjustable to maintain the ball in bearing, contact .with its 'bearing surface and with the upper face of the cutter plate 6. One or more of these'bearing balls 10 may be provided, and by the use thereof, areciprocatorycutter 6 is held closely down in engagement withv the cutter 4, thusl preventing to a maximum extent the admission of grass between them and clogging of the same'in use.

The center of the clip is provided with a threaded opening 12 below which is a socket 13.-' A bolt 14 extends upwardly through the finger bar with its threaded end extending upwardly 'through the opening 12 and receiving a nut15, whereby the clip is fastened in position. One or more of these bolts or sockets may be used, and seated within each socket is a -coiled spring 16 whichexerts its expansive energy upward on the clip and serves to maintain the bolt and nut in firm binding contact. When the nut is relaxed or removed, the spring forces the clip upward, thus enabling the clip to be conveniently elevated ordetached for thet removal of accumulated grass in the nection of the cutters for sharpening'.

An arm 17 extends rearwardly from the clip and is apertured for the passage of a screw stem 18 working at its lower end 'in a provided between said bar and arm with an angular adjusting head 19 adapted for the application of a spanner o r wrench. The upper end of the stem is threaded to receive a ,nut 20 to retain the arm in connection therewith. The said stem 18 is adjustable space 7 or disconthrough the medium of its head to raise and lower the rear portion of theclip to set it accurately to maintain the ball 10 in bearing contact with the reciprocatory cutter 6, the clip in this operation tilting on the connecting bolt 14. When the nuts `15 and 20 are removed the clip as a whole may be detached, in which operation the expansion of the spring 16 tends to elevate the' same, thus facilitating the detachment of the clip, as Vwill be readily understood. The spring-v also serves to give a yielding action between the ball bearing The lower end ofthe plugis concavedthreaded opening in the bar l and end oi the clip and the rear iastening to prevent transmission oi objectionable strain from one to the other, allowing suicient elasticity or yielding to obviate liability o injury. By the use oi the moval oi the clip or its carrying a stationary cutter, a reciprocatory cutter coacting therewith, a clip, a fastening securing the clip intermediate its ends to the finger bar on which said clip is adapted to tilt, a spring associated with said fastening to normally exert lifting pressure on the clip, an anti-friction bearing on the forward portion of the clip-engaging the reciprocatory cutter, and an adjustable fastening connection between the rear end of the clip and the finger bar, whereby the clip may be tilted to regulate the pressure of said bearing.

2. In a',mowing apparatus, a nger bar having` a guard carrying a stationary cutter, a reciprocatory cutter coacting therewith, a. boltextending upwardly through the finger bar, a clip having 'an--openingrfor the passage of said bolt and a communicating socket, said clip having portions extending forwardly over the reciprocatory cutter and rearwardly over the finger bar, an anti-friction bearing upon. the forward portion of the clip engaging the recprocatory cutter,l an adjustable connection between the rear portion ot' the clip and the finger bar, an expansion spring housed within the socket about the bolt, and a nut associated with the bolt and bearing on the clip.

In testimony whereof, I aix my signature in presence o! two witnesses.

DAVID R`. GRIFFITHS.

Witnesses MARGARET M. CASHIN. E. W. ABBOTT. 

